Tray



Feb. 1, 1944. R MlLLER 2,340,483

' TRAY Filed March 19, 1942 llvvENv-ola EOBEET/ -M/LLE'R I? TTOE/VEKPatented Feb. 1, 1944 TRAY Robert rte-Miller, Tarentum, Pa., assignor toPittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa, a corporation ofPennsylvania Application March 19, 1942, Serial No. 435,385

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to trays of the type employed for servingfoods and refreshments and it has particular relation to the provisionof a tray comprising a single panel of plate glass to whichsuitablehandles are attached.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, convenient,attractive and economical method of securing the handles to a tray ofthe foregoing type.

A second object of the invention is to provide a simple and attractivetray structure of novel design.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent fromconsideration of the following specification and claim.

In accordance with the provisions of the present invention it isproposed to construct serving trays of single panels or plates of glassand to provide handles structures including slotted or shoe-likeportions adapted to fit over the edges of the glass and to receivepackings of an easily fusible alloy, such as Rose's metal, which, uponcooling, expands between the inner surfaces of the slot and the surfacesof the glass securely to hold the parts in position.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be had tothe accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a plan view of a. trayconstructed in accordance with the provisions of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a second tray constructionembodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 3is a fragmentary side elevational view of the construction shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the lineIV--IV of Fig. 2.

' In the drawing like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

The construction as shown in Fig. 1 embodies a simple, massive panel orplate ll! of glass, which preferably is tempered by conventionalmethods, e. g., by heating the glass plate, after it has been suitablyground and polished and out to shape, just approximately to thesoftening temperature, and then suddenly chilling it with blasts of coldair. A plate so treated is very much stronger than onventional plate ofannealed glass, and indeed approximates the strength of cast iron. Itcan also be sprung to a much greater degree than an annealed platewithout breakage and will resist sudden shocks from heat and coldwithout breakage. In event that it should be ruptured at any point, itshatters completely and substantially instantaneously into small dicedfragments, which are comparatively harmless and will, for example, notout the foot of the bearer in event that they fall thereupon.

The plates may be of any convenient thickness. e. g., inch and they maybe clear, translucent or opaque, as may be desired. They may also beenameled with colors or sand blasted to provide appropriate designs. Inevent that sand blasting is employed the pattern should beonlysuperficial, otherwise shattering of the plate may result.

A suitable handle structure for this tray ineludes side elements ll, oneof which is shown in detail in Fig. 3. The elements as shown em-= body ashoe or channel-like portion I2 having a slot l3 adapted to fit over acorner portion of the plate It. The slot preferably is packed with aneasily fusible alloy, such as Roses metal it, which can readily bepoured into the fitting and which when it cools, tends to expand, thusfirmly and permanently gripping the edge of the plate. If desired, thesurface of the glass covered by the portion it may be roughened orstriated to a slight degree, in order to enhance the bond between theglass surface and the metal. The inner surfaces of the member 92 mayalso be roughened or serrated as indicated at It, to enhance thesecurity of the bond between the fusible metal and the surface of thefitting.

Slightlyupwardly curving arms ll are formed integrally with or otherwiseattached to the members l2 and at theirouter extremities may be providedwith sockets i8 designed to receive the ends of cross-bars or handlebars I9. These bars maybe of metal, such as stainless steel, chromeplated brass, aluminum, or the like. They may also be of glass ortransparent plastic, such as methyl methacrylate. The use of ebony, coi

ored plastics and the like is also contemplated.

As shown, the bottom surface of the portions l2 of thehandle membersprovide convenient feet or pads upon which the trays are adapted torest.

The constructions illustrated in the Figs. 2 and 4 embody a glass plate25, similar to the plate Ill, and have handle elements 26 which, inelevational outline, substantially correspond to the handle constructionI, shown in Fig. 3. The construction includes a single body portion 21,similar in section to the body portions 12, a, pair of armportions 28and a handle or gripping portion 29, which may be formed integrally withor otherwise secured-to extremities .of the arms 28. This constructionis, mounted with Roses tion' 32 of a metal, such as steel, brass,aluminum or the like and preferably having a smooth, rounded dome-likeouter surface. This element may rest upon a washer 33 formed ofheat-resistant plastic, asbestos fiber suitably cemented together or anyother convenient material. The glass plate 25 is provided with anopening 34 communicating with the interior of the shell 3?. Space withinthe shell and the opening 34 is filled with fusible Rose's metal or thelike. In order to form and to attach the feet to the plate the shells 32are disposed in sition upon any convenient support and the plate 25 withthe washers 33 cemented in position is superposed thereupon in suchmanner that the interior of the shells and the openings register withrespect to each other. The shells and the openings are thenv poured fullof Rose's metal, which, upon solidification, provides a rivet thatsecurely anchors the shells.

The constructions'shown obviousl are highly 2,340,488 metal or otherfusible metal in the same/mansimple an'cl provide trays of glass panelsembodying a minimum of metal. The trays are strong, heat-resistant andperfectly resistant to foods, beverages and the like, which may bespilled thereupon and will also resist the action of lighted cigarettesor cigars, which may be accidentally brought into contact with thesurface.

The trays, if soiled, are so smooth that washing.

is a very simple operation. i The constructions herein shown anddescribe are to be considered merely as exemplary. It will be apparentto those skilled in theart that numerous modifications may be madetherein without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A serving tray embodying a single plane panel of tempered glass andhaving channel-like elements disposed upon two opposed edgesthe spacebetween the inner surfaces of the elements and the contiguous surfacesof the panel being filled with an easily fusible alloy adapted to expandupon cooling, securely to grip the surface of the panel, saidchannel-like elements further being provided with handles.

ROBERT A. MILIER.

